Is Leo DiCaprio's new film "One Battle After Another" the battle we really need to fight right now?

Some films touch a nerve at just the right moment. Others just get on your nerves.

By Greg Rabidoux

First, let's dispense with the obvious. As a filmmaker and as I get older, the list of what I would give up, including various non-essential body parts to direct a talent like Leo only grows. Okay, maybe even essential. Second, if the movie poster for this film has you thinking Leo looks a lot like Marlon Brando in 1952's Viva Zapata it's no coincidence. Sadly, Marlon playing a Mexican revolutionary made more sense back in the day than Leo playing a former anarchist/terrorist in a group called The French 75 now.

But in the midst of political violence, including terror attacks on elected officials, car bombs, torture, anti-immigrant sentiment, general nihilist mayhem, and the kidnapping of Leo's estranged newbie-revolutionary daughter, here's the question-Is this movie the Dirty Harry of our days when the power of film to comment on, even move the needle on current debate was undeniable? Or are those heady cinematic days gone forever?

Short answer? No. Longer answer? It's not entirely the fault of the film. But it does say a lot about where cinema and Hollywood are circa 2025. In other words, it ain't the 1970s.

When Clint Eastwood wondered aloud if he had fired five or six shots from his Manum .44 in 1971's Dirty Harry or when he asked, "Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?" the violence, upheaval and chaos of the 1960s had spilled over into 70s cinema. The "reimagining" of law and order, called reform back then, had also swung the pendulum so far to the left and to the rights of the accused it was the pain and suffering of every real victim that Harry Callahan's raspy detective gave voice to. Finally. Enough coddling of the street thug. Time to take action. Not by paper pushers promoted for so-called progressive ideals but by cops who do the dirty work others can't or won't do. Just three years later, Charles Bronson's Paul Kersey took that palpable fear and loathing many felt one step further with his civilian vigilante killing machine in Death Wish. Film critics still debate whether it was Paul who had the death wish due to his wife and family being brutally murdered by gangbangers or it was any criminal who dared commit a crime in "his city."

In short, both actors were at the peak of their powers, and Hollywood was, in many ways, at the peak of its unrivaled power to provoke and persuade. The absolute perfect films at the absolute perfect moment. At the time some called the films exploitative and pandering. Victims of crime and everyone who feared taking the subway, walking alone at night or even in broad daylight, cowering in an apartment behind a half a dozen deadbolts, they all called the films a story of their lives. And gave them hope things could get better.

So, what about One Battle After Another? It's being called "a ferocious American masterpiece" and enjoyed a strong opening box office week-end. It even has a female character named "Junglepussy." Seriously? Is this Austin Powers with pepper spray? Anyways, the script has either been in development or languished in a desk drawer for over twenty years. And it shows. What could have been, maybe even should have been, a powerful statement about the very real political violence, fear, hatred, and divisiveness we all find ourselves in currently, kind of turned into a "Look what might have happened if Brando's Viva Zapata met Liam Neeson's Taken with a little "V" for Vendetta thrown in for good measure."

Ultimately, this is one "Battle" which settles for stirring the protest pot without ever letting it bake into something truly meaningful and provocative. A Dirty Harry or Death Wish for our times it is not. But then again, with so many of its target audience addicted to social media other than peeking at a clip here or a tidbit there, while the true "revolutionaries" head to Portland, Leo's latest may just go largely unnoticed. Like I said, it ain't the 1970s pal. Leo, my offer still stands.

Greg Rabidoux is an award-winning filmmaker, author, and screenplay writer.